Apparatus for soldering



June 25, 1957 J. F. KIEMELE ET AL 2,797,288

APPARATUS FOR SOLDERING Filed Sept. 50. 1954 ATTOP/VZX United States Pa m 10 r pany, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Applicationseptember '30, 1954, Serial No. 459,342

4Claims. .(Cl. 219-95) This invention relates to apparatus for soldering, and more particularlyto a: device'forhea'ting a continuously traveling seam in a cable sheath to accomplish soldering.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for accomplishing the soldering of a continuous seam in a cable sheath by induction heating.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device for heating a seam for soldering wherein the heating is restricted substantially to the area of a moving seam.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tubular induction coil wherein the said coil is protected from leakage of cooling fluid from the tubing through holes caused by arcing.

In an apparatus illustrating certain features of the invention for soldering a continuous seam along a moving cable sheath, said seam containing the solder to be used in the soldering operation, there is provided a high frequency induction coil constructed of copper tubing and having a back portion and a front portion to which is bonded a thick rounded metal guard for absorbing arcing from the cable and preventing water leaks into the cable. Means are provided for advancing the cable sheath seam past the heavy guard of the front portion of the induction coil and a means is provided for cooling the soldered seam as it passes from the heating zone of the induction coil.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of apparatus forming a specific embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical front elevation of the apparatus with a cable having a metal sheath in position to be soldered;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown an induction heating coil 1 formed of continuous copper tubing and having a front portion 2 and a back portion 3, said front portion 2 being positioned directly above and in close proximity to a moving cable sheath 5 enveloping a cable 6 and having an overlapped seam 7 to be soldered, in which seam a strip of solder 9 is positioned. The back portion 3 is parallel to and positioned above and away from the front portion 2 and is connected at each end to the ends of the front portion 2, each said portion being deflected upward at its ends. At the middle of the back portion 3 the tubing is divided to provide the terminals of the coil, each said terminal being connected to a radio frequency generator and a source of cooling fluid so as to provide through the coil a closed fluid and electrical circuit. A thick shield 10 of copper or other metal of good conductivity is brazed to the front portion 2 so as to be positioned between the front portion 2 and the cable sheath 5 for the protection of the front portion 2 from leakage of the cooling fluid through N 2,797,288 Ce Patented June 25, 1957 holesnormally caused by arcing from a thin front portion 2 to the cable-sheath 5 without the shield.

Capstans 11 are. provided for advancing the cable and sheath,.and rollers 13 and 'a platform 14 or other guiding means are provided for maintaining the cable sheath directly underthe front portion 2 with the seam 7- uppermost. A nozzle 15 is connected to av source of'water or other cooling fluid and is positioned so as to direct a spray of vcoolingfluid onto the soldered seam 7 as it passes fromtheheating zone of the coill to immediately solidify the solder.

This structure restricts the heating to substantially the area oftheseam 7 by positioning the-front. portion 2 directlyabove and. in closeproximity to the-seam7 and the back portion 3a greater distance above and :away from the seam. This arrangement causes the magnetic field to be highly concentrated at the seam 7 and less intense elsewhere, with the result that the heating is localized at the seam Where the soldering is accomplished,

Since the front portion 2 is in close proximity to the cable sheath 5 there sometimes occurs arcing from the front portion 2 to the sheath 5 because of voltages induced by the magnetic field. Without a shield on the front portion the arcs cause tiny holes to be burned in the tubing, causing cooling fluid to leak into the cable. This arcing is rendered harmless by providing a shield 10 of copper or some other metal of good conductivity which is brazed to the tube. With the shield in place any heat caused by arcing is dissipated through the shield, with the result that no holes are burned in the tubing of the coil to cause leakage of the water passing through the tubing.

In operation a cable sheath 5 having a seam 7 to be soldered containing a strip of solder 9 is advanced by capstans 11 past the high frequency induction coil 1 as illustrated in the drawings. The rollers 13 and the platform 14 or other guiding means maintain the cable sheath 5 in a position directly below and in close proximity to the front portion 2 of the induction coil 1, which heats the seam 7 and the solder 9 to a temperature above the melting point of the solder. As the soldered seam passes out of the heating zone it is cooled by a stream of cooling fluid directed from nozzle 15 to solidify the solder before movement of the sheath can open the seam.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1.. An apparatus for soldering a continuous seam containing solder comprising, a tubular induction heater carrying a cooling fluid and having a first straight portion a heavy metallic strip of high thermal conductivity secured to one side of the first straight portion in a position extending therealong and positioned parallel and near to such a seam to be soldered, said tubular induction heater also having a second straight portion parallel to and spaced at distance from the said seam, means for advancing the seam, and means for cooling the soldered seam.

2. In an apparatus for soldering a continuous seam containing a strip of solder, a tubular induction coil having a first straight portion positioned in close facing relationship with such a seam and a second straight portion spaced a distance from the seam, said first straight portion having along one side and between the said first portion and the seam a flat strip portion of high thermal conductivity for dissipation of heat caused by arcing, said flat strip portion extending transversely from the straight portion of the coil or both sides thereof whereby heat caused by arcing is conducted away from said coil means for advancing the seam, and means for quenching the soldered seam.

3. A device for soldering a continuous seam containing solder, comprising a high frequency heating coil having a first portion positioned a predetermined distance from such a seam and a second portion spaced away from the seam for controlling the location of the heating, a bar of greater width than the coil and extending along and integral with said first portion for dissipating heat 10 caused by arcing by conducting heat from said first portion, means for maintaining the seam the said predetermined distance from said heat dissipating means, and means for advancing the seam past the heat dissipating means.

4. An apparatus for soldering a continuous seam containing solder, comprising a high frequency tubular heating coil having a first generally straight portion positioned near to and directly above such a seam to be soldered and a second generally straight portion spaced a y 4 distance above and away from the seam for controlling the location of the heating, said portions being deflected upward at the ends and said first portion having a flat strip portion of high thermal conductivity extending therealong in a position adjacent to the seam, said strip portion being of greater width than said first portion for conducting heat therefrom and dissipating it means for advancing the seam, and means for directing a stream of coolant onto the soldered seam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,455,136 Obert Nov. 30, 1948 2,467,201 Frazier Apr. 12, 1949 2,582,955 Body Jan. 22, 1952 2,652,474 Sorenson Sept. 15, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 234,373 Great Britain May 28, 1925 

